Marystown council hoping taxi situation resolved soon

Marystown council members recently discussed taxi service in the community. - Southern Gazette file photo

With Radio Cabs in limbo, Marystown Taxi’s five vehicles only rides in town

MARYSTOWN, N.L.

The lack of taxi availability in Marystown was raised as a concern during council’s meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 8.

Under the town’s taxi regulations, 15 taxi licences have been set as the maximum based on the town’s population.

Five of those are issued to Marystown Taxi, while Radio Cabs has the other 10.

Radio Cabs stopped operating last year, however, meaning those licences are sitting idle.

Planning and development control director Alje Mitchell told council he has spoken to the company’s owner several times about the situation.

“He has said to me on a number of occasions that he’s not interested in operating that company anymore, but he does have people interested in purchasing whatever interest he has in it,” Mitchell told council.

Mitchell said he last talked to the owner before Christmas and they agreed to meet up to discuss his intentions early this year.

Coun. Andy Edwards said the taxi situation was a hot topic over the busy Christmas season with people out socializing and looking for rides.

Protection to persons and property chair Coun. Nora Tremblett acknowledged people are finding it difficult to get a taxi in the town.

Coun. Mike Brennan, the committee’s co-chair, said there was no interest in issuing any new licences until the Radio Cab situation is resolved.

He blamed “ghost taxiing” – people illegally offering rides in exchange for money – as affecting the industry.